Celebrating - Resourcing - Growing
Pray for peace
1. Pray for Peace and Protection
Pray for the people of Israel and Gaza, that God will grant them His divine protection and bring peace to this troubled region. Shield them with your wings, O Lord, and keep them safe in your refuge. Comfort those who have lost loved ones.
2. Prayer for the Hostages
Men and women, old and young, soldiers and civilians are all being held in Gaza. Pray for their safe release and for your comfort in their distress. Pray too for their distraught families and friends and for those who grieve the deaths of those killed on 7th October.
3. Prayer for Leaders’ Wisdom
Heavenly Father, grant wisdom and discernment to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and all leaders involved in making decisions during this challenging time and for those facilitating any negotiations. May they seek your guidance.
4. Prayer for Civilians in Gaza
Pray for the innocent civilians in Gaza who are suffering. Lord God, have mercy on them and provide for their needs.
5. Prayer for an End to Violence
Prince of Peace, we cry out for an end to the violence and bloodshed. Bring about reconciliation and understanding among conflicting peoples. May your peace prevail.
6. International Leaders
We pray for world leaders, such as President Joe Biden and leaders in the Middle East. May they work towards a peaceful resolution and support efforts to bring an end to this conflict.
7. Prayer for Healing and Unity
Heavenly Father, we humble ourselves and seek your face. Heal the land, bring unity among people, and let your love shine through even in the darkest of times.
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Pray for peace and an end to extreme violence.
In the early hours of April 15 2023, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) – a Sudanese paramilitary force – attacked the military airstrip in Merowe and deployed troops across strategic locations in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum. Within hours, fighting between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) had begun. By afternoon, it was nearly impossible for civilians to flee Khartoum. It took only a few days for war to spread to the rest of the country.
The war between the two militaries has now gone on for a year. Khartoum is largely controlled by the RSF, and the government, led by the SAF since 2021, has been forced to relocate to Port Sudan on the country’s Red Sea coast.
US and Saudi-led efforts to facilitate ceasefire talks in Jeddah have so far failed. The civilian opposition to the regime of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of the SAF, has fragmented, unable to engage in serious negotiations.
The current situation in Sudan is a result of flawed peacemaking attempts and the failure to respond to early signs of growing hostilities. The deadlock looks nearly impossible to break. Neither side is strong enough to win.
According to the UN, around 25 million people – half of Sudan’s population before the war – are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.
Sudan’s significance
Pray for Christians in Sudan
Open Doors report:
More than 2m Christians in Sudan, in a population of over 47m.
The devastating conflict that broke out in April 2023 is threatening to further undermine the positive steps made towards religious freedom following the ousting of Omar al-Bashir in 2019. More than 9,000 people have been killed and nearly six million displaced. At least 165 churches have been closed and others have been destroyed. Churches have also reported human rights violations such as rape, kidnap and looting, with a recent spike in the abduction and killing of Christian men by radical groups. It’s a tactic designed to debilitate a family financially.
There are long-term concerns that the conflict will give Islamic extremists a renewed foothold in the country, undoing the reforms made by the transitional civilian government which gave more freedom to Christians, including abolishing the apostasy law and removing Islam as the state religion.
Christians who have converted from Muslim backgrounds continue to face huge dangers. Some will even refrain from telling their children about Jesus, for fear they may inadvertently disclose their parents’ faith to the local community.
A woman who converts to Christianity is vulnerable to house arrest, forced marriage, divorce, disinheritance, losing custody of her children. A man faces beatings, imprisonment, harassment at work and displacement, kicked out of his home, shunned by family, forced to flee. There has generally been an increase in violence against Christians since believers became more vulnerable after the eruption of civil war in April 2023.
Pray for peace
UNHCR report:
The ongoing civil war follows on from Myanmar's long-running insurgencies, since 1948 which are largely ethnic-based. The war has escalated significantly in response to the 2021 military coup d'état and the subsequent violent crackdown on anti-coup protests.
Background
By the time of the 2011–2015 Myanmar political reforms, Tatmadaw, Myanmar’s military, had regained control of many long-time rebel strongholds. The 2015 Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, signed between 8 ethnic groups and the central government fell apart in 2018..
Tatmadaw use terror tactics against the population – mutilations, torching villages, a massive bombing campaign displaced nearly 3m . The Myanmar Air Force has dropped more bombs per capita than have been dropped in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
1 February 2021, the Tatmadaw deposed the elected Myanmar government in a coup, forming a military junta. Former president Win Myint, Aung San Suu Kyi, and several other members of the National League for Democracy were detained during early morning raids. It’s estimated 23,521 people have been killed in the violence following the 2021 coup. However, by 2022, the opposition controlled substantial, though sparsely populated, territory.
Facts and statistics
Open Doors
Pray for Christians in Myanmar
Open doors report:
The Buddhist-majority country has 4.5 million Christians, which is just eight per cent of the country’s population of 55.7 million.
Myanmar remains mired in a violent conflict that is having a devastating impact on the country’s Christian minority.
Since the military coup in February 2021, Christians have encountered greater violence and tighter restrictions. Believers have been killed and churches have been indiscriminately attacked, even well-established ones in predominantly Christian states like Chin and Kayah. More Christians than ever have been driven out of their homes and have found refuge in churches or camps for internally displaced people. Some are even forced to flee to the jungle where they are often deprived of access to food and healthcare.
Christians are part of the generally peaceful resistance movement, but fighting has increased across the country and although not all ethnic minority armed groups are involved, some Christian ones are. Government forces have continued to disproportionally attack Christian villages and churches and also killed Christian aid workers and pastors, often in aerial attacks.
Beyond the conflict, converts to Christianity find themselves persecuted by their Buddhist, Muslim or tribal families and communities because they have left their former faith. Communities who aim to stay ‘Buddhist only’ make life for Christian families impossible.
Non-traditional church groups experience opposition, too, especially those located in rural areas.
Tearfund reports:
Myanmar refugees in Thailand
Pray for our local partners and churches in Thailand who are receiving displaced people from Myanmar. One local partner has distributed 200 packages of medicine and first aid kits and will continue to prepare more for 1,000 people. Ask for safety and protection for all parties involved and for peace and unity across Myanmar.
Pray for peace
The Bible Society in Ukraine leans heavily on Psalm 31.
“The words of Psalm 31 have become a mantra for Ukrainian people: ‘Terror on every side! They conspire against me and plot to take my life. But I trust in you, Lord. I say, “You are my God.”’ (verses 13–14, NIV).”
Read more from the Bible Society and pray.
Despite the war in Ukraine Bible mission there not only continues, but has expanded. The Bible Society leader in Ukraine, Oleksandr (pronounced Alexander), says that people fearing for their own lives and the lives of loved ones are turning to the Lord in ever greater numbers.
From Kyiv he said this: ‘Churches are filled with people wanting to pray and find comfort. People call us and visit daily, desperate to get Bibles. But our stock for the entire year is almost gone. People are taking whatever we have. One pastor pleaded for Bibles that were damaged or even copies with pages missing.’
Oleksandr added that the Bible Society team in Kyiv has been given a special military pass to travel around the city to distribute basic aid and Scriptures. He sent us a video of him in the back of a van packed with children’s Scriptures. He describes the Bible worker at the vehicle’s wheel as a hero, as he risks his life driving through streets delivering Bibles.
Other Bible Society workers are in southern Ukraine, delivering Scriptures and basic aid to people in hospitals and bomb shelters. As missiles explode around them these people clutch Scriptures just handed to them. Through God’s word they find strength and hope. The words of Psalm 31 have become a mantra for Ukrainian people: ‘Terror on every side! They conspire against me and plot to take my life. But I trust in you, Lord. I say, “You are my God.”’ (verses 13–14, NIV).
The Bible Society team in Ukraine thank you for your prayers. Please pray the fighting will end soon and that more people will find hope through the Scriptures. There are many agencies providing humanitarian aid, which is so important. But for Scriptures, people in Ukraine are relying on the generosity of Bible Society supporters.
If you want to help get more Bibles to Ukraine please go to biblesociety.org.uk/ukrainechurch